Container seal

ABSTRACT

A container seal, including a socket, a C-shaped ring, a pin, and a pointer, is provided. The socket has a jack, a slot, and a reservoir which connects to the slot. The C-shaped ring is disposed on the slot&#39;s slot wall. The pin has a tapered end and a trench disposed on a position having a first distance from an end surface of the tapered end. The tapered end passes through the C-shaped ring, making the C-shaped ring be snapped in the trench. The pointer has a neck portion and a head portion whose diameter is between the internal diameters of the slot and the reservoir. The head portion passes through the slot and enters into the reservoir, and the neck portion connects to the end surface. When the pin is pulled out, the pointer is separated from the end surface and dropped into the reservoir.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)on Patent Application No. 100213376 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on2011/7/20, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a seal, and more particularly, to acontainer seal for sealing a container.

2. Related Art

With the growing development of transportation technologies, tradecontacts among countries in the world have become more frequent. Anyrequired article produced anywhere in the world can be obtained in ashort period through logistic channels, at a reasonable cost. The mostcommon method of storing bulk cargo, whether for internal or externaltransportation, is to place the goods in a container with a certainsize, and then transport the container to different parts of the worldthrough various conveyances, such as a ship or a land vehicle.

However, in order to prevent the goods in the container from beingstealthily substituted or destroyed, or even prevent a terrorist takingthe opportunity to dispose an explosive in the container, a containerseal may be additionally installed on the doors of all the containers toprevent unscrupulous persons from destroying the goods deliberately.Since each of the container seals is printed with a unique number, it ispossible to determine whether the container seal is destroyed orchanged, by checking the number.

The conventional container seal has a simple structure, and as shown inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a manner of combining a pin and a socket is used tolock the container securely. One end of the pin is disposed with atrench, and a C-shaped ring is disposed inside the socket; when the pinis inserted into the socket, the C-shaped ring in the socket may beclamped into the trench of the pin, so that the pin cannot be easilypulled out.

Such a container seal is not safe enough. In fact, it is found that someunscrupulous persons use a manner of rotating the pin at a high speed totake out the pin, and re-insert the original pin or a duplicate of theoriginal pin into the socket after destruction or theft. As a result, itcannot be known from the outward appearance alone whether thecontainer's security has been breached by lawless persons.

SUMMARY

In view of these difficulties, the present invention provides acontainer seal, which includes a socket, a C-shaped ring, a pin, and apointer. The socket has a jack, a slot, and a reservoir which connectsto the slot. The C-shaped ring is disposed on a slot wall of the slot,and has a distance of a first depth from the jack. The pin has a taperedend and a trench, in which the trench is disposed on a position having afirst distance from an end surface of the tapered end, and the taperedend passes through the C-shaped ring, so that the C-shaped ring issnapped in the trench. The pointer has a head portion and a neckportion, in which a diameter of the head portion is between an internaldiameter of the slot and an internal diameter of the reservoir. The neckportion is fixedly connected to the end surface of the tapered end. Thehead portion of the pointer passes through the slot and enters into thereservoir. When the pin is pulled out of the socket due to an externalforce, the pointer is separated from the end surface of the tapered end,and then dropped into the reservoir.

Since the head portion of the pointer is greater than the slot wall ofthe slot, once the pointer is dropped into the reservoir, the pointercannot be taken or removed from the reservoir. Therefore, even ifunscrupulous persons re-inserts the original pin or another pin into thesocket, the container checker may determine whether the pointer of thecontainer seal has been dropped into the reservoir by shaking, so as tofurther determine whether the container seal has been destroyed.

In addition, the socket may be made of a transparent material or isdisposed with a window, and through the window, the container checkermay check the reservoir with the naked eye from the outside. In thisway, the container checker may determine with visual inspection whetherthe pointer is dropped into the reservoir of the socket, so as to knowwhether the container seal has been destroyed.

To summarize, through the present invention, the container checker mayeasily determine whether the container seal has been destroyed in theshaking manner or the visual inspection manner, thereby overcoming thedefects of the conventional container seal. The present invention isdescribed in detail in the following with reference to the embodimentsand the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thusnot limitative of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view (1) of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view (2) of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view (1) of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view (2) of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view (3) of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view (1) of the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view (2) of the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic operational view (3) of the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view (1) of the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view (2) of the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view (3) of the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic operational view (1) of the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic operational view (2) of the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic operational view (3) of the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic operational view (1) of the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic operational view (2) of the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic operational view (3) of the second embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 20 is a schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 are respectively schematic views (1) to (3) of a firstembodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIGS. 3 to 5, whichembodiment includes: a socket 1, a first C-shaped ring 13, a pin 2, anda pointer 3. Socket 1 has a jack 17, a slot 18, and a reservoir 19, andfirst C-shaped ring 13 is disposed on a slot wall 191 of slot 18, andhas a distance of a first depth from jack 17. Pin 2 has a tapered end 25and a trench 27, in which trench 27 is disposed on a position having afirst distance from an end surface 29 of tapered end 25, and tapered end25 passes through first C-shaped ring 13, so that first C-shaped ring 13is snapped in trench 27. Pointer 3 has a head portion 31 and a neckportion 33, in which a diameter of head portion 31 is between aninternal diameter of slot 18 and the internal diameter of reservoir 19.Head portion 31 of pointer 3 passes through slot 18 and enters intoreservoir 19. Neck portion 33 is fixedly connected to end surface 29 oftapered end 25. When pin 2 is pulled out of socket 1 due to an externalforce, pointer 3 is separated from end surface 29 of tapered end 25, andthen is dropped into reservoir 19.

In this embodiment, first C-shaped ring 13 is C-shaped ring or fasteningring similar to the C-shaped ring. Socket 1 is made of a transparentdielectric material. Pointer 3 is made of a polymer material, such asplastic.

In this embodiment, since a size of head portion 31 of pointer 3 isgreater than the internal diameter of slot 18, in the process ofinstalling pin 2 onto socket 1, a certain force should be exerted toenable head portion 31 of pointer 3 to pass through slot 18 and enterinto reservoir 19.

Please refer to FIGS. 6 to 8, which are respectively schematicoperational views (1) to (3) of the first embodiment of the presentinvention. Please refer to FIGS. 6 to 8, in which embodiment, since headportion 31 of pointer 3 passes through the first C-shaped ring 13, whenpin 2 bears an external pulling force, the pulling force is borne byfirst C-shaped ring 13. When the external pulling force is greater thana force capable of being borne by first C-shaped ring 13 and trench 27snapped together, pin 2 may be pulled out of socket 1. In the process ofpulling out of pin 2, pointer 3 may be separated from pin 2 due to theinterference of the slot wall of slot 18, and then is dropped intoreservoir 19.

In this embodiment, end surface 29 of tapered end 25 of pin 2 has a hole291, which is as shown in FIG. 9. Neck portion 33 of pointer 3 istightly fit into the hole 291. It should be noted that the strength ofthe combination of pointer 3 and pin 2 is smaller than the requiredpulling force for pulling pin 2 out of socket 1. In another embodiment,the hole 291 is changed into a locking hole, and a thread is disposed atneck portion 33 of pointer 3, so that pointer 3 is locked into thelocking hole through the thread at neck portion 33.

In another embodiment, the first embodiment is combined with anelectronic seal described in PRC Patent No. CN201796380. In thisembodiment, the container seal further includes elements such as a radiofrequency (RF) chip, a transmission conductor, and an antenna, andpointer 3 has a penetration hole, in which the penetration hole passesfrom head portion 31 to neck portion 33. The RF chip and thetransmission conductor are both disposed in pin 2, and the transmissionconductor is connected electrically to the RF chip. The antenna isdisposed in socket 1, and when pin 2 is inserted into socket 1, theantenna may pass through the penetration hole and is connectedelectrically to the transmission conductor disposed inside pin 2. Inthis way, a signal of the RF chip is sent outside through the antenna.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 are respectively schematic views (1) to (3) of asecond embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIGS. 10 to12, which embodiment includes: a socket 1, a first C-shaped ring 13, asecond C-shaped ring 15, a pin 2, and a pointer 3. Socket 1 has a jack17 and a slot 19, and first C-shaped ring 13 and second C-shaped ring 15are disposed on a slot wall 191 of the slot 18, and respectively have adistance of a first depth and a second depth from jack 17, in which thesecond depth is greater than the first depth. Pin 2 has a tapered end 25and a trench 27, in which trench 27 is disposed on a position having afirst distance from an end surface 29 of tapered end 25, and tapered end25 passes through first C-shaped ring 13, so that first C-shaped ring 13is snapped in trench 27. Pointer 3 has a head portion 31 and a neckportion 33, in which a diameter of head portion 31 is greater than aninternal diameter of second C-shaped ring 15, head portion 31 of pointer3 passes through second C-shaped ring 15. Neck portion 33 is fixedlyconnected to end surface 29 of tapered end 25. When pin 2 is pulled outof socket 1 due to an external force, pointer 3 is separated from endsurface 29 of tapered end 25, and then is dropped into the slot 19.

In this embodiment, first C-shaped ring 13 and second C-shaped ring 15are C-shaped rings or fastening rings similar to the C-shaped rings.Socket 1 is made of a transparent dielectric material. Pointer 3 is madeof a polymer material, such as plastic.

In addition, when first C-shaped ring 13 of this embodiment is snappedin the trench, the head portion of pointer 3 may pass through secondC-shaped ring 15, and has an axial gap from second C-shaped ring 15.Since rough roads or bad sea conditions are inevitably encounteredduring a transportation process of the container, the pin is inevitablypulled by the external force at this time. If head portion 31 of pointer3 is enabled to maintain an axial distance from second C-shaped ring 15,separation of pointer 3 from pin 2 due to occasional rough roads or badsea conditions is prevented, so that a container checker does notmistakenly conclude the container has been destroyed by unscrupulouspersons.

In this embodiment, since a size of head portion 31 of pointer 3 isgreater than the internal diameter of second C-shaped ring 15, in theprocess of installing pin 2 onto socket 1, a certain force should beexerted to enable head portion 31 of pointer 3 to pass through secondC-shaped ring 15.

Please refer to FIGS. 13 to 15, which are respectively schematicoperational views (1) to (3) of second embodiment of the presentinvention. Please refer to FIGS. 13 to 15, in which embodiment, sincehead portion 31 of pointer 3 passes through second C-shaped ring 15 andthen has an axial gap from second C-shaped ring 15, when pin 2 bears anexternal pulling force, the pulling force is borne by first C-shapedring 13. When the external pulling force is greater than a force capableof being borne by first C-shaped ring 13 and trench 27 snapped together,pin 2 may be pulled out of socket 1. In the process of pulling out ofpin 2, pointer 3 may be separated from pin 2 due to the interference ofsecond C-shaped ring 15, and then is dropped into the reservoir 19.

In this embodiment, end surface 29 of tapered end 25 of pin 2 has a hole291, which is as shown in FIG. 16. Neck portion 33 of pointer 3 istightly fit into hole 291. It should be noted that the strength of thecombination of pointer 3 and pin 2 is smaller than the required pullingforce for pulling pin 2 out of socket 1. In another embodiment, hole 291is changed into a locking hole, and a thread is disposed at neck portion33 of pointer 3, so that pointer 3 is locked into the locking holethrough the thread at neck portion 33.

In another embodiment, the first embodiment is combined with anelectronic seal described in PRC Patent No. CN201796380. In thisembodiment, the container seal further includes elements such as a radiofrequency (RF) chip, a transmission conductor, and an antenna, andpointer 3 has a penetration hole, in which the penetration hole passesfrom head portion 31 to neck portion 33. The RF chip and thetransmission conductor are both disposed in pin 2, and the transmissionconductor is connected electrically to the RF chip. The antenna isdisposed in socket 1, and when pin 2 is inserted into socket 1, theantenna may pass through the penetration hole and is connectedelectrically to the transmission conductor disposed inside pin 2. Inthis way, a signal of the RF chip is sent outside through the antenna.

In the above embodiments, since the size of head portion 31 of pointer 3is greater than the internal diameter of second C-shaped ring 15, oncepointer 3 is dropped into the reservoir 19, pointer 3 cannot be easilytaken or dumped out of the reservoir 19. Therefore, even if unscrupulouspersons re-insert the original pin or another pin into the socket, thecontainer checker may determine whether the pointer of the containerseal has been dropped into the slot in a shaking manner, so as tofurther determine whether the container seal has been destroyed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, socket 1 may be made ofa transparent material and is also disposed with a window, and thechecker can check the slot 19 from the outside, through the window. Inthis way, the container checker easily determines by visual inspectionwhether pointer 3 has been dropped into reservoir 19 through the window,so as to determine whether the container seal has been destroyed by anexternal force. In addition, the window may be a penetration hole incommunication with the slot from the outside, and a size of thepenetration hole must be smaller than a size of pointer 3, so thatpointer 3 is prevented from being dropped into the reservoir 19 throughthe penetration hole.

Please refer to FIGS. 17 to 20, which are respectively schematicoperational views (1) to (3) of third embodiment of the presentinvention and schematic combination view of a pointer and a pin of thepresent invention. Please refer to FIGS. 17 to 20, the primarydifference between the first embodiment and the third embodiment is thata needle 292 is disposed on end surface 29 of tapered end 25 of pin 2,and the needle 292 pierces into neck portion 33 of pointer 3 so as tofixedly connect neck portion 33 to end surface 29 of tapered end 25.

While the present invention has been described by the way of example andin terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that theinvention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On thecontrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similararrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

1. A container seal, comprising: a socket, having a jack, a slot, and areservoir, the slot connects to the reservoir, and the internal diameterof the reservoir is greater than the internal diameter of the slot; aC-shaped ring, disposed on a slot wall of the slot, and having a firstdepth from the jack; a pin, having a tapered end and a trench, whereinthe trench is disposed on a position having a first distance from an endsurface of the tapered end, and the tapered end passes through theC-shaped ring, so that the C-shaped ring is snapped in the trench; and apointer, having a head portion and a neck portion, wherein a size of thehead portion is between an internal diameter of the slot 18 and aninternal diameter of the reservoir 19, and the head portion is fixedlyconnected to the end surface of the tapered end; wherein the headportion of the pointer passes through the slot, and when the pin isseparated from the socket due to an external force, the pointer isseparated from the end surface of the tapered end and then is droppedinto the reservoir.
 2. The container seal according to claim 1, whereinthe socket is transparent.
 3. The container seal according to claim 1,wherein the socket has a window, so that a checker is capable ofobserving the slot from outside.
 4. The container seal according toclaim 1, wherein the end surface of the tapered end has a hole, and theneck portion of the pointer is tightly fit into the hole.
 5. Thecontainer seal according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of thetapered end has a locking hole.
 6. The container seal according to claim1, wherein the neck portion of the pointer has a thread, and the pointeris locked into the locking hole through the thread.
 7. The containerseal according to claim 1, wherein the pointer has a penetration hole,and the penetration hole passes from the head portion to the neckportion.
 8. The container seal according to claim 7, further comprising:a radio frequency (RF) chip, disposed in the pin; a transmissionconductor, disposed in the pin and connected electrically to the RFchip; and an antenna, disposed in the socket, and passing through thepenetration hole and connected electrically to the transmissionconductor; wherein a signal of the RF chip is sent to outside throughthe antenna.
 9. The container seal according to claim 1, wherein aneedle is disposed on the end surface of the tapered end, and the needlepierces into the neck portion of the pointer so as to fixedly connectthe neck portion to the end surface of the tapered end.
 10. A containerseal, comprising: a socket, having a jack and a slot; a first C-shapedring, disposed on a slot wall of the slot, and having a first depth fromthe jack; a second C-shaped ring, disposed on the slot wall of the slot,and having a second depth from the jack, wherein the second depth isgreater than the first depth; a pin, having a tapered end and a trench,wherein the trench is disposed on a position having a first distancefrom an end surface of the tapered end, and the tapered end passesthrough the first C-shaped ring, so that the first C-shaped ring issnapped in the trench; and a pointer, having a head portion and a neckportion, wherein a size of the head portion is greater than an internaldiameter of the second C-shaped ring, and the head portion is fixedlyconnected to the end surface of the tapered end; wherein the headportion of the pointer passes through the second C-shaped ring, and whenthe pin is separated from the socket due to an external force, thepointer is separated from the end surface of the tapered end and then isdropped into the slot.
 11. The container seal according to claim 10,wherein the socket is transparent.
 12. The container seal according toclaim 1, wherein the socket has a window, so that a checker is capableof observing the slot from outside.
 13. The container seal according toclaim 10, wherein when the first C-shaped ring is snapped in the trench,the head portion of the pointer passes through the second C-shaped ringand has an axial gap from the second C-shaped ring.
 14. The containerseal according to claim 10, wherein the end surface of the tapered endhas a hole, and the neck portion of the pointer is tightly fit into thehole.
 15. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein the endsurface of the tapered end has a locking hole.
 16. The container sealaccording to claim 10, wherein the neck portion of the pointer has athread, and the pointer is locked into the locking hole through thethread.
 17. The container seal according to claim 10, wherein thepointer has a penetration hole, and the penetration hole passes from thehead portion to the neck portion.
 18. The container seal according toclaim 17, further comprising: a radio frequency (RF) chip, disposed inthe pin; a transmission conductor, disposed in the pin and connectedelectrically to the RF chip; and an antenna, disposed in the socket, andpassing through the penetration hole and connected electrically to thetransmission conductor; wherein a signal of the RF chip is sent tooutside through the antenna.
 19. The container seal according to claim10, wherein a needle is disposed on the end surface of the tapered end,and the needle pierces into the neck portion of the pointer so as tofixedly connect the neck portion to the end surface of the tapered end.